Martin Salter

Labour MP Reading West

Date of birth

19 April 1954

Political profile

Martin Salter was one of Labour's most unexpected winners in 1997 and has become one of the party's most active backbenchers.

He is on the mainstream left of the party and delights in taking pot shots at "fat cats".

He has also called for MPs to be banned from holding jobs outside Parliament, as part of a thorough programme of Commons modernisation.

He is better known for his serious reservations over the use of private finance in public services and was one of the leaders of the campaign against the part-privatisation of NATS.

A former housing association manager and deputy leader of the local council, he is active on social exclusion issues; he formed the all-party community banking group.

He is a keen angler, a hobby he combines with fierce opposition to hunting.

Contact

[e-mail]

Constituency office 0118 9546 782